Improvement in extracting mercury from its ores



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH PATERA, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA.

Specification forming part of LettcrsPatent N 0. 118,147, dated August 15, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLPH PATERA, of Vi enna, in the Empire of Austria,have invented a certain Process and Means for Extracting Mercury fromMercurial Ores, of which the following is a specification:

The extraction of mercury from mercurial ores has hitherto been executedeither in shaft or reverberatory furnaces or in closed retorts. In theshaft and reverberatory furnaces the mercurial vapors evolved pass offtogetherwith the products of combustion into the condensing devices, andgreat losses of mercury result from the excessive heat employed and thecontamination with the products of combustion. In the closed retorts theore is mixed with decomposing fluxes, such as lime and iron oxides, andvery high temperatures are employed, causing great loss of mercury and alarge consu1n1')tion of fuel. In both cases the ore is worked in largepieces.

Now, my process of extracting or distilling the mercury from mercurialores containing the metal in a native state, or in the state ofsulphide, as cinnabar, consists in the employment of muftles or pipesheated externally like the retorts used in the production of gas fromcoal. The muffles or pipes, which may be of iron or burned clay, andhave any suitable shape, lie horizontally in the furnace, and the frontends are open to the access of air, while the hind ends are connectedairtight with any ordinary means for condensing the mercurial vaporsevolved during the process. The size of the furnace and of the apparatusmay vary to any extent according to local require ments. The mercurialore, having been crushed to coarse powder, is introduced into eachmuffle or pipe by means of a hopper and spread over the bottom. The orecontained in the muffles or pipes is then raised to a temperatureslightly exceeding the boilingpoint of mercury, (360 centigrade,) butnot exceeding the beginning of a low red heat, (about 500 centigrade,)the muffles or pipes being heated from the exterior by means of anordinary grate-firing or by other suitable means.

At the end of the condensing apparatus, which may be of any suitablelength and have any desirable shape, an exhausting or suction apparatusis fixed for the purpose of producing a draught of air from the frontend of the muffle or pipe through the condensing apparatus, and thusconveying the entire mercurial vapors evolved from the muffles or pipesinto the condensing apparatus. The suction apparatus may consist of afan, an air-pump, a jet of steam, or any similar device, or, when poorores are worked, a draught produced by connecting the end of thecondensing-pipes or chambers with the furnace-chimney is sufiicient.From the open front ends of the muffles or pipes the white vaporsevolved during the process are visible even when poor ores are worked,and from the gradual diminishing and final disappearing of the same thecontinuation and end of the process can be observed. Toward the end ofthe process a cold iron bar may be introduced into the muffle or pipe todetermine whether vapors are still being evolved, in which case a whitecoating is at once formed on the bar. If the temperature and draught beproperly regulated, which the workmen can easily learn to do after alittle practice, nearly the whole of the mercury condenses in the firstcondensing.

tube or chamber close to the end of muffle or pipe.

The advantages of my process are: First, a considerable saving ofmercury, the metal being obtained in a pure state, free from soot andthe like, and condensing much sooner than usual. Secondly, a greatsaving of fuel, the ore being worked at a low temperature. Thirdly,greater protection of the workmen from mercurial vapors and fourthly,the enablement of a convenient regulation and watching of the process.

Having thus so fully described my invention as to enable any personskilled in the science to which it appertains to make use of the same, Idesire it to be understood that I do not claim any mode of condensingthe mercurial vapor or any peculiar firing for heating the muffles orpipes from the exterior, or, apart from the device described, theemployment of an artificial draught.

I claim as my invention 1. Employing for the extraction of mercury frommercurial ores a mufile or pipe heated from the exterior and having oneend open for the access of air, while the other end is connected withmeans for condensing the vapors evolved, the whole constructedessentially as described, and essentially for the purpose of excludingthe mercurial ores and vapors from contact with the fuel and products ofcombustion, and of preserving a regulated temperature.

2. Employing, in connection with a muffle or pipe constructedsubstantially as described and for the purpose aforesaid, any kind ofdevice for producing a draught of air through said pipe and condensingdevices, essentially as described.

3. Employing, in the extraction of mercury from mercurial ores by theprocess and means described, a temperature slightly exceeding 360centigrade, but not exceeding 500 centigrade, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

4. Employing, in the extraction of mercury from mercurial ores by theprocess and means described the ore in the form of coarse powder toenable the distillation to take place at the lowest possibletemperature.

ADOLPH PATERA. Witnesses:

HENRY PAGET, WILLIAM HUNING.

